“It’s one of the biggest games of the season every
year,” head coach Kelly Berger said. “Albany is a
rival, they’re in conference and they are a great team. I
expected two great teams to show up and I think they both did
today.”

Both goalies earned America East Player of the Game awards for
their respective teams. Albany sophomore Anna Berman stopped nine
shots in the Great Dane cage, while UMBC’s Barnett stopped
four of five UA free position shots amongst her nine saves.

“(Barnett) came ready to play, (and) she made adjustments
when she needed to make adjustments,” Berger said.
“She was calm, composed and didn’t play like a freshman
whatsoever. It was good to see.”

UMBC never trailed, but quickly relinquished a 4-2 halftime
advantage as Albany scored twice in the first 3:24 of the second
half. Bilney regained the advantage for UMBC, bouncing a shot from
the left wing past Berman at the 12:57 mark of the half and
increased the Retriever advantage to 6-4 by converting a free
position shot 100 seconds later.

Retriever junior midfielder and leading scorer Linsday Cox (High
Bridge, N.J.) extended the margin to 7-4 with a dodge from up top
and goal at the 16:53 mark. The Great Danes had a reply for that
goal, as attacker Rachael Burek tallied 43 seconds later, but Cox
finalized the scoring on an unassisted tally with 10:33 to
play.

Barnett turned aside two free position attempts in the final 3:31
to preserve the victory and square the all-time series at 6-6.

Cox finished with two goals and one assist, while senior midfielder
Alicia Krause (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Hebron) had a goal, a
helper and three ground balls.

Albany junior attacker Jess Alselmi led the visitors with two goals
and an assist, while Burek had pair of scores.

The Retrievers bolted out to a 3-0 lead on goals by Krause,
sophomore midfielder Taeler Errington (Valley Lee, Md./Leonardtown)
and Bilney in the first 13:27 of the contest. Alsemi brought UA to
within 3-2 on a free position shot with 2:22 to play in the half,
but Retriever freshman Abby Wilson (Bel Air, Md./Fallston) scored
from the right side of the crease on a Krause feed with 30 seconds
to play.

UMBC outshot the Great Danes, 25-17 and controlled nine of 15
draws. The Retrievers only committed seven turnovers in the
contest.

The nine saves by Barnett is a season high for UMBC goalkeepers on
the season.

UMBC hosts another America East power, when they welcome Boston U.
to UMBC Stadium on Sat., March 31 at noon.